On October 12th, C.K. McClatchy partook in the annual celebration of Oktoberfest, hosted by German Club. Typically there’s a big turnout, with lots of people showing up for the different German foods and treats. However, this year was different.
Each year the club and their advisor, Frau Templeton, plan weeks prior to the festival, making decorations and preparations. At the event, they sell goods like bratwursts, drinks, treats, and meals in order to raise money for their club.
According to a junior that attended the festival, there was a crowd of around six people, which, while exaggerated, seemed to accurately describe the overall feeling of the event: unexpectedly small and under-attended.
It wasn’t just students that took note of the lack of a crowd at the festival. Spanish teacher Señora Tapia mentioned not even knowing there was a school event going on.
The cause behind Oktoberfest’s small turnout and earnings is solely based on one thing: advertising. Advertising in McClatchy is complex; no one seems to take note of the posters on the walls during passing period unless they’re huge, bright, and excessive. If the advertising poster lacks some of these traits, it’s unlikely that it’ll wake any student from that groggy zombie-like trance they embody as they walk from class to class.
Other means of advertising on campus include students going from class to class, hoping the teacher will be kind enough to let them interrupt their class for a few moments to share their news. Or, there’s always the morning announcements, which is a dangerous choice as in most classes it seems like no one listens to them.
“We thought more people would show up then who actually did and it was a little rough. We definitely expected a bigger crowd but sometimes it be like that and at least we all had a lot of fun,” said German club president, Olivia Vinding (‘20).
“Next year we hope to see more people coming out and supporting our club.”
Ultimately, Vinding claimed, “We could’ve advertised the event better, but otherwise it went pretty smoothly.”